Electric danger-alarm for railroads.



P. W. MOSHER. ELECTRIC DANGER ALARMPOR RAILROADS.

APPLIUATI ON FILED JULY 26, 1911.

Patented July 23, 1912.

51401144 000 RW/VOJJZI' UNITED STATES PATENT orrroE.

-PETER W. MOSHER, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA.

ELECTRIC DANGER-ALARM FOR RAILROADS. I

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 26, 1911.

Patented July 23, 1912. Serial No. 640,649. '7

.ence being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a- Part of this application.

This invention relates to improvements in railway equipment, and particularly to a means for giving an alarm when two trains are approaching each other in a manner likely to cause a collision and also to give an alarm when a train is approaching an open switch which is not supposed to be open.

The main object of the invention is to prodme an electrically operated means for giving such alarm, said means consisting in a third rail or over head trolley whereby electric power may be transmitted from one train to theother and operate an alarm mechanism whenever two trains come within a predetermined distance of each other or are likely to run into an open switch.

A further objectof the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will. be exceedingly efiective for the purposes for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claim.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding partsin the several views.

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a railwayv showing a diagrammatic outline of two locomotives carrying my improved signal mechanism. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of an outline of a locomotive showing the improved alarm mechanism therein. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a switch mechanism showing the application of my alarm system thereon. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the same, showing the alarm mechanism and a signal post.

. Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, 1 designates the rails o a railway and 2 a tlnrd rail disposed intermediate thereon (or an over head trolley may be used as may be found most desirable), which third rail is d ylded into a series of sections of predetermlned length separated at certain points as at 3. In the cab of each engine is located a storage battery or other suitable battery 4:, connected by a wire 5 and a spring shoe 6 at one of the axles 7 of the locomotive and by a wire 8 with an alarm bell 9 and by a subsidiary wire 10 with an electric light 11,

there being a wire 12 running from said electric wire and bell to a spring operated shoe 13 adapted to ride on said third rail at a point near the front of the locomotive.

In practice when two locomotives get on one of the sections of the third rail 2 at the same time, then a circuit is completed from one of 'the batteries 4 through the wire 5, shoe '6, axle 7, through the third rail 2 to the shoe 13 of the other locomotive, back through the wire 12 of such last named locomotive, through the bell and light to the storage battery, thus forming a circuit,

which rings the bell and lights the light,

thus giving both a visible and audible alarm to the engineer or fireman or both. By the use of the commonly used block system if the engineer or fireman or both happen to be occupied with their duties at the time the signal was set, this would prevent their seeing the same. By the use of improved structure however, the audible alarm would call their attention to the danger whether or not they were occupied with their duties.

In order that two locomotives might not approach each other head on to a point too close to a division of a section, as atv 3,1 provide an auxiliary rail 14 at approximately a quarter mile at each side of said division point 3, and connect the same by a wire 15 wlth the next ad acent section; whereby a slgnal Wlll be given of trains approaching head on at a sufficient distance completed through the bell and light of the approaching locomotive and a signal given. Also I provide a wire connection 18 between the third rail 2, and the switch light. 19, whereby when the switch is opened the light will be lighted, and thus give a visible signal of the open switch on the switch post as well as giving the visible and audible signal in the cab of the locomotive In using my improved third rail electric alarm mechanism, no hand or push :ars used on the railway need be insulated as isthe case with the present block system, for the reason that they will not make any connection or circuit with any approachingtrain, for the reason that they will not be equipped with my improved structure. Another advantage of the third rail is that it will-be to hold trains on the grade in case of derailment, since it will act as a guard rail in that respect. Also the third rail will act to hold the track in alinementand will permit of the main rails being laid with the joints in square alinemert, which will lessen the lateral motion of the train now due to passing over the rail joints laid in alternate order. In case of the train being derailed, the engineer then can connect a wire from my improved apparatus to the rails andthus give an approaching train equipped with my apparatus, a signal of the danger. The space 3 between the sections of the third rail may be an open space or formed of any insulating material, such as wood, paper or rubber or the like.

From the foregoing description it will readily appear that l have produced such a device as substantially fulfils the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred ctmst-ruction of the device, still in practice such dev ations from such details may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention.

II a ring thus described my invention wha l I claim as new and useful and desire to sector by Letters Patent is An electric alarm system for railways pressed shoe carried by said locomotive and adapted to ride on said third rail and said auxiliary rails, an alarm in said locomotive, a source of electric energy on said locolno: tive, a wire connectingsaid shoe and said alarm, a wire connecting said alarm and said source of electric energy, and a wire connecting said source of electric energy and one of the axles of said locomotive, as described.

In testimony whereof l allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PETER WV. MOSH Elt. Witnesses:

JOSHUA B. Vl nns'rnn, FRANK H. CARTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained. f r five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

